Democratic Governor Mark Dayton has said he will sign the bill on Tuesday. The law would take effect August 1.… Read the rest
Latest News
Welcome to our archive of news stories relevant to the project of fighting fashionable nonsense. The stories are drawn from the electronic pages of the world’s media. On this page, you’ll find links to those stories that have been featured on Butterflies and Wheels during the current year. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find links to separate archives of stories from previous years.
We’re always pleased to hear about news stories that you think should be featured on Butterflies and Wheels. Just send an email here, if you want to point one out to us.
A note about links
Inevitably links go out of date. We suggest, therefore, that you make hard-copies of the stories that particularly interest you.
Vaccination rates are plummeting in Sydney
May 10th, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Measles swept through south-western Sydney last year, with 172 young children falling ill. It was the worst outbreak in a decade.… Read the rest
Saudi Arabia launches first anti-domestic violence ad
May 10th, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Thank the king for tiny tiny tiny favors.… Read the rest
Dr. Avijit Roy on the dire situation for free expression in Bangladesh
May 6th, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If the bloggers are kept against their will, Bangladesh will be well on its way to being a fundamentalist autocracy.… Read the rest
Hackney Citizen on Leo Igwe’s talk “The ‘taboo’ of atheism in black communities”
May 3rd, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Meeting this funny and generous man, you could nearly forget the incredibly serious nature of his work.… Read the rest
Girls who have sex should not be punished with unintended pregnancies
May 3rd, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Last week Obama pledged his continuing support for women’s reproductive rights. Five days later his administration betrayed both reproductive rights and science.… Read the rest
Justice Department appeals judge’s ruling on morning after pill
May 3rd, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The ruling directed the FDA to make the morning-after birth control pill available to females of all ages without a prescription.… Read the rest
Afghanistan: woman shot dead by her father over “honor”
May 1st, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The killing came after three religious leaders issued a fatwa that Halima should be killed publicly, after her father sought their advice about his daughter’s elopement.… Read the rest
Martin Robbins on the cost of writing on the internet
Apr 30th, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Abuse is something that all writers just seem to be expected to accept as “the price”, as if simply having a platform makes you a legitimate target.… Read the rest
Measles outbreaks in England and Wales
Apr 26th, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The current spread of measles is in stark contrast to a decade ago, when there were only a handful of cases. Nice job, Wakefield.… Read the rest
UK “conman” convicted of selling fake bomb detectors
Apr 24th, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Homeopaths next?… Read the rest
Worldwide Protests for Free Expression in Bangladesh
Apr 23rd, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
An international coalition led by CFI, the IHEU, and American Atheists, will protest the persecution of atheist bloggers in Bangladesh with demonstrations on April 25.… Read the rest
Kansas: Brownback signs sweeping antiabortion bill into law
Apr 23rd, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The law violates the accepted definition of fetal viability as defined by Roe v. Wade.… Read the rest
Video: Burmese police stand by as Buddhists attack Muslims
Apr 22nd, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The footage, apparently shot by police officers, shows Buddhist crowds cheering when Muslims are attacked and setting fire to mosques and houses.… Read the rest
Praveen Halappanavar still wants answers
Apr 21st, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The only thing that could have saved Savita was a prompt termination, and by the time it was lawful to perform a termination, she was beyond saving.… Read the rest
Another gender segregated lecture at UK university
Apr 16th, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The University of Leicester has launched an investigation into gender segregation at a public lecture held by its student Islamic society.… Read the rest
Fazil Say convicted of blasphemy and inciting hatred
Apr 15th, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A Turkish court has convicted pianist and composer Fazil Say of blasphemy and inciting hatred through a series of comments he made on Twitter last year.… Read the rest
ireland: Bethany Home survivors blame State for deaths
Apr 15th, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Manslaughter of 63 children occurred’ when the State funded the Protestant institution.… Read the rest
Giving space to Andrew Wakefield on MMR isn’t balance, it’s lunacy
Apr 13th, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Wakefield’s research was unconvincing at the time and swiftly refuted, yet the ‘controversy’ over MMR has raged for years, fuelled by credulous idiots in the media.… Read the rest
ECHR calls on Ireland to implement abortion law
Apr 11th, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The committee said “the general prohibition on abortion in criminal law constitutes a significant chilling factor for women and doctors.”… Read the rest
